Editorial: Metro-North fixes must go beyond money

Metro-North Railroad trains are parked at the Poughkeepsie Train Station.

So far, a federal investigation into Metro-North Railroad operations offers virtually no good news for the railroad, its passengers - and the taxpayers who help pay for public transportation whether they use it or not.

Here's why. The Federal Railroad Administration report, coming on the heels of a horrific, deadly derailment in December and a slew of other accidents over the past few years, blames in part the railroad's emphasis on on-time performance at the expense of safety. It says workers were rushed to fix problems. It cites deficiencies in training programs. It says track maintenance and upgrades to equipment are needed. And some of these things are going to cost money and possibly alter train schedules.

December's crash left four people dead and dozens injured and, though human error has been blamed for the crash, the report cites other derailments and accidents that resulted in injuries and "significant" property damage. Just this week, a Metro-North track worker from Yonkers was killed by a train heading north from Grand Central Terminal to 106th Street in Manhattan. The railroad, which for years was cited as model of safety, has had an alarming string of problems.

The National Transportation Safety Board already has recommended changes, including having the railroad install audio and video recorders on its vehicles and posting new speed-limit signs along tracks. To its credit, Metro-North has moved forward where it can, including developing and installing signal system modifications at dangerous curves along the tracks.

But much heavy lifting remains, and that includes installing a system known as "positive train control," which has the ability to slow trains as they go around bends.

Metro-North is part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's operation. The Journal, once again, impresses on the imperative to have this authority run as efficiently as possible. The authority gets money from many sources, including a host of taxes and fees foisted on those not using the service.

There are, however, great benefits to public transportation - it reduces car emissions, helps those without vehicles to get around and brings tourists to the area - and most people are willing to do their share to keep these services.

But the authority has been beset by so many project cost overruns over the years and has been cited for so much waste, fraud and abuse that taxpayers have had enough. Audits have shown employees getting paid even if they didn't show up for work, and, like many agencies and authorities dealing with public employees, the MTA is saddled with high pension and other costs. New Yorkers need to see far more accountability from the authority, with the considerable resources it has been given going to the most important of tasks, safety chief among them.

Metro-North has 60 days to respond and submit plans to improve safety and training programs, and a federal review of the railroad is continuing. Changes definitely have to be made, but it must be made clear that government has to do something way beyond attempting to throw more money at the problem.

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Editorial: Metro-North fixes must go beyond money

So far, a federal investigation into Metro-North Railroad operations offers virtually no good news for the railroad, its passengers ? and the taxpayers who help pay for public transportation whether